Carol Morrissey Patterson, long time resident of Windsor Square, passed away on June 11 at the age of 87. Patterson was a longtime member of the Hancock Park Garden Club where I had the pleasure to know her and her sister Biddy Liebig. Carol was always willing to lend a hand, no task was too small or unimportant. She loved to learn and was always curious about our programs and speakers.
“My Aunt Carol love the garden club, she was so proud and happy to be a member,” her niece, Annie Johnson, also a member of the garden club, told the Buzz.
“I was lucky to have had the best sister in the world,” Biddy Liebig said of her older sister whom she drafted into the garden club though Carol’s real passion was Children’s Hospital.
Patterson lived on Lucerne, only the second owner of the house. Liebig told the Buzz the family learned after a visit to Monticello by Patterson’s daughter Robin, that the first owners, the Silmer’s, were relatives of Thomas Jefferson.
Below is the obituary written by Patterson’s daughter Robin, that appeared in the Los Angeles Times and online.
Carol Morrissey Patterson – 87 years old, went to Heaven on June 11, 2017. Beloved wife of 56 years of the late Gerald Stewart Patterson (Jerry), cherished and eternally loved and adored mother of Robin Patterson Nenninger Nugent and caring and loving grandmother of John Nenninger (Jack). Kind mother-in-law to Robert (Bob) Nugent and also to John Nenninger. Also survived by her sister Ann Morrissey Liebig, her brothers-in-law William Hill Patterson (Susie) and Robert Stephen Patterson (Anne) and her sister-in-law Jeanne Morrissey. Carol’s brother Donisle Robert Morrissey, Jr. and her parents Blanche and Donisle Robert Morrissey predeceased her. Carol was a caring aunt to Bob, Annie, Don, Will, Lyman, Susan, Sarah and Kelly. She was a loving great-aunt to Maeve, Brad, Tessa, Mark and Marie.
Carol attended Marlborough School, Stoneleigh-Burnham School and Stanford University. She lived her whole life in Los Angeles. Mom loved to volunteer. She enjoyed her times in the Junior League of Los Angeles, Children’s Chain in support of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a founding member, Jr. Philharmonic, Good Samaritan Hospital Guild, the Stanford Womens’ Club and the Hancock Park Garden Club.
But her true and total volunteer devotion was the years that she gave to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as the Director of Volunteers for 23 years. She was also on the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Board of Directors for 21 years. CHLA became her life’s daily volunteer work and joy. Mom’s marriage to Dad was a love story. They were childhood sweethearts who lived down the same block from each other. Carol and Jerry were a devoted two peas in a pod who were never far apart. Now they are together again. Mom was generous, kind, high energy and always positive and upbeat. Even towards the end, she would break into a smile even as the dementia got the better of her. Her devoted caregivers Soltero, Digna, Vivian and Helene allowed her to enjoy a longer and better life. What a gift they were. Private services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, c/o The Play Therapy Fund (in support of the volunteer resources effort), 4650 Sunset Blvd., M/S #4, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Mom, may God bless and keep you; may God make His face to shine upon you and give you peace, both now and evermore. Amen
